By: Mariama Njie
Medical experts in The Gambia believe that the misconceptions surrounding the taking of coronavirus vaccine have been defeated.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people in The Gambia were exposed to information that is false, inaccurate, and misleading. The Misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccines such as infertility, and death have caused confusion and led people to decline vaccines, reject public health measures such as masking and physical distancing, and use unproven treatments.
Speaking to Dr. Gibril Gando Baldeh, Senior health communication officer, in an exclusive interview, explained that medical experts in The Gambia were able to get rid of misconceptions by debunking vaccine myths.
“There were misconceptions that the vaccine can cause death, infertility, and health conditions but through a series of sensitization with the general public, and media interviews the misconceptions were tackled with time,” he revealed.
He went further, there was a myth that the vaccine can cause infertility in men and women, and “we have seen women who took the vaccine when they were not pregnant. These women got pregnant afterward without any complications.”
It has been almost two years since most people received their COVID -19 vaccines in The Gambia and nothing happened to them, Dr. Baldeh confirmed.
He noted that the misconceptions and misinformation about the COVID-19 Vaccines were due to the rapid process of making the vaccines.
“To clear misinformation, we made it clear to people that one of the main reasons why the vaccine was developed within the shortest possible time was that COVID-19 was one of the only diseases that went around the world within three months since its emergence in 2019 December,” he added.
Dr. Baldeh explained that the pandemic nature of the disease warranted scientists all over the world to fast-track the development of the very important life-saving vaccine.
“The duration the vaccines were developed was so fast, which was one of the reasons why many people were having the concept that the vaccines are harmful,” he said.
How vaccine misconceptions addressed
Dr. Baldeh, said “we give assurance to people that the vaccines are very safe and have been proven to be very effective. We make people know that this vaccine is not the first vaccine to be introduced in The Gambia, we have vaccinated against 13 diseases. So covid-19 adding to that list making it 14 is not something new,” he said.
Also, they appealed to the people telling them the facts surrounding the vaccination since March 2021. As of now, he revealed that they have almost vaccinated over 500,000 people in The Gambia and none of them complained of a severe problem after immunization.
“So, during our routine days, we used this opportunity to tell people that the coronavirus vaccine is not only to prevent one against the virus but it also prevents severe symptoms if the person happens to have the virus and it will prevent hospitalization which eventually prevents death due to coronavirus.”
According to him, The Gambia has been known to be taking vaccination since 1978 when the extended program on immunization was established and since then many diseases were vaccinated against. Adding that, “we have eradicated many diseases such as polio, yellow fever, measles, meningitis and hypertension due to vaccinations.”
Meanwhile, Alhagie Sillah a registered nurse at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital said the misconceptions about covid-19 vaccines have disturbed health workers particularly those dealing with the COVID-19.
“As a health care worker, I have seen a lot of people who normally come to me and give their view regarding the vaccine, I engage them and give them all the necessary information they need,” he added.
He said they were able to get rid of some misconceptions during their routine clinical days as they often engage patients on how the vaccines were developed to give them the assurance that it is safe and effective.
The Vaccine makes the immune system strong to fight against any virus that wants to attack your system, so one might have some slight temporary symptoms upon taking the vaccine,” Nurse Sillah said.
She urged health workers to always engage people during their clinical visits about the vaccine, and give those scenarios, and examples about the people who have taken it and are still feeling good.
Tijan Ceesay, a Registered Nurse currently working for Nesthet Clinical Services in his part said one of the ways to address COVID-19 vaccine misconceptions is by giving patients a better understanding of how vaccines prime the immune system to recognize and fight off disease without actually causing an infection in them.
“Also make it clear to them that the vaccines are not extraordinary, they are just there to prevent and do not guarantee non-recurrence of the Covid-19,” he added.
However, Jarrai Kebbeh who got vaccinated said when vaccines arrived in The Gambia and were announced to be taken, she said she was scared and made up her mind never to take them because of the misinformation circulating in the media.
“I consulted my doctor about the misinformation and he assured me that the vaccines are safe and effective,” she added.
Miss Kebbeh stated that after taking her COVID-19 vaccine, she felt normal and did not encounter any symptoms to date.
Lamin Kebbeh said, “I never had a bad thought about the vaccine and especially not the dying part even with all the bad information that was circulating out there regarding it.”
He explained that after taking the vaccine he had a terrible fever but that was already known to be one of the side effects of such a powerful vaccine.
“My wife and I were amongst the first people to be vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine and without any complications,” he expressed with joy.
This story was produced with support from Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), through its Mobilizing Media in the Fight Against COVID-19 in partnership with Mai-Media and The Voice Newspaper.
